Twelve and a half miles. More than four thousand feet of climbing. Past the first mile, nobody on the trail or camped at a lake. What a great time! Full-size photos and additional ones can be found here.Unfortunately, I think this last trip yesterday just might close out the season in the high Sierra. The forecast for the coming week is for cold and snow. Too bad, I had hoped to get one more trip in to investigate a different trail to access the Desolation Wilderness than I did yesterday.This trip started out at the Eagle Falls trailhead, across Highway 89 from Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe. When I arrived around 8:45, there were only a few cars in the lot and a bit of a chill in the air. The sky was cerulean and the sun bright, although not high enough to reach inside the canyon as I climbed. That would change for the descent. My goal for the day was to visit five different lakes: Dick's, Fontanillis, Upper Vilma, Middle Vilma and Eagle. In addition to those, I found numerous ponds, puddles and ice along the way.The trail was probably the roughest I've played on in the last few years. The climb up out of the canyon was staggeringly studded with two-foot step-ups and loaded with rocks and roots. Challenging on the way up and downright treacherous on a tired-leg descent after 10 miles!

That's the "trail" - lots of big rocks to scramble over.

The lakes were beautiful. Calm for the most part as there was no wind to speak of. I stopped at Dick's Lake for a bit to enjoy the utter silence and solitude. Ahhh. Then it was back in the groove with my panting breath keeping me company.I did spot an unusually large fir (Abies concolor, if I am not mistaken) quite high up, and solitary in the rocks. I had to scramble over to take a closer look and some photos. From an inaccurate arm-span measurement, it appeared to be around 25' in circumference. Pretty large for a tree as high up (about 8500'). I, of course, took a photo or two.

After reaching Dick's Lake, the tough climbing was done. The rest of the way was mostly downhills. The stretch from Fontanillis to Velma was wonderful running: smooth and curvy downhills. I actually was able to stretch out my legs a bit with only a bit of fear of tripping. For me, a fear of tripping is a constant thing. My two mangled wrists from falls will attest to that.I did take a self shot at each lake. If the person in the photo induces hurling, look only at the scenery.

A dick at Dick's Lake.

A dick at Fontanillis Lake

A dick at Middle Velma Lake.

A dick at Upper Velma Lake.

A dick at Eagle Lake.

There is a second route to the area that I am looking to try next week, weather willing. The Bayview trail shows two-tenths of a mile shorter than the Eagle Lake trail. I'm less concerned with the distance than with the trail conditions. I'd like to be able to run more and scramble less. If the Bayview trail allows it, that'll become my favorite access to this area. For now, though, the Five Lake (and numerous ponds) Lasso is one of the most scenic trips I've done.

While out a couple of months ago on a trail with a friend, I noticed a couple of rather large trees. It took a couple of months, but I finally got around to measuring them. I packed up a laser range finder and a 100' tape and off I went. The first and the one that I most wanted to measure is a Ponderosa Pine that I am confident is the largest specimen in Nevada. I measured it at 343" in circumference (9' 1" BHD). That equals the largest Ponderosa I was able to find online — anywhere in the US — and easily dwarfs the current Nevada champion at 240". However, the estimated height of 125' pales in comparison to the 259' behemoth that is the current US record-holder and is a bit shorter than the Nevada record of 150'. Depending on the calculations for "bigness," maybe a Nevada record-setter?

The next on on the list I originally thought was a cedar, but after closer inspection, I noticed the sprays weren't flattened as cedars are but more three-dimensional, indicating to me that it was a juniper (Juniperus sp.) Still, a large specimen measuring 306" around. It is a stubby thing, only approximately 40' tall. Not in Nevada, either. Oh well. Still a nice tree.

The last tree I measured was an alpine fir (Abies concolor) and was again in Nevada. I wasn't able to snap a photo, since I couldn't get far enough away to really get it in a photo without too many other obscuring trees. It measured 21' 9" around and 177' tall.

Regardless of the outcome of records, it was pretty good time getting out and about in the early fall. The leaves were turning and the trail empty.